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Underage: Afri Cani 7” (Attack Punk Records, 1983)
It’s been a while since I featured an obscure 80s hardcore record as my staff pick, so I’m righting that wrong today with this 1983 EP from Italy’s Underage. It goes without saying that I’m a huge fan of classic Italian hardcore. After filling in on guitar for Golpe for a few gigs, I even consider myself something of an honorary Italian. (Since those shows, I’ve noticed my spaghetti tastes more authentic). That peninsula produced (and continues to produce!) so much great punk, much of it with a distinct flair you don’t get from anywhere else in the world. There’s also something romantic about the original vinyl from this scene. I remember when I was first hearing this stuff, records like Raw Power’s You Are the Victim or Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers’ 400 Fascists seemed unattainable, but I’ve tracked down copies of both over the years. I still don’t have a Wretched / Indigesti split, though! What I couldn’t have known until I held these artifacts in my hands was that the packaging and design was often just as distinctive as the music, typically handmade and packed with text and graphics, in keeping with the anarchist values so many in that scene held.
Back to Underage. Underage was from the Southern Italian city of Napoli. While I’m no expert, I am aware of the cultural divide between Northern and Southern Italy, the North being richer and more connected to European culture, while the South is poorer and more connected to the Mediterranean world. I wish I knew enough Italian to glean more from the dense insert booklet that comes with Afri Cani, particularly the essay on the back page by Jumpy from Attack Punk Records. It starts with the words, “Africani, Marrochini, Terroni”—Africans, Moroccans, and Terroni (a racial slur referring to people from Southern Italy and/or of Southern Italian heritage)—and the words I can make out paint a picture of a turbulent environment rife with injustice. There’s clearly a lot to be said about that topic, given that most of the classic, best-known Italian hardcore bands came from the more affluent North.
Musically, Underage is—like so many other Italian bands—most notable for their idiosyncrasies. They clearly take Discharge’s raw and primal hardcore as a big influence, but the charmingly shaky drumming, piss-raw production, and (most of all) the truly bizarre guitar sound are the aspects of Afri Cani that I find the most interesting. The EP’s highlights include “Thanks U.S.A.” with its Void-like pitch-shifted backing vocals, and “Entro Domani,” which captures something of Discharge’s sinister tone on Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing, albeit without that record’s huge production. Both politically and aesthetically, Afri Cani feels like a radical statement, which is in keeping with Attack Punk’s other releases by raw bands from under-appreciated scenes like Spain’s MG15 and Yugoslavia’s U.B.R. It’s clear from the 9(!)-song track listing and the dense insert booklet that Underage had so much they wanted to say to the world.
While I couldn’t find much info about Underage in English, I discovered their drummer, Davide Morgera, wrote a book about his time in the band and the scene called Africani, Marrochini, Terroni, though it’s in Italian and also appears to be out of print. The one anecdote I found about Underage presumably comes from that book. 1983, Underage was offered an opening slot for the Exploited in Bologna, and after traveling all the way from Napoli to Bologna for the gig, the band Bloody Riot (whom I also like) jumped on stage and played instead of Underage, bullying the band out of their prestigious opening slot. After traveling dejectedly back to Napoli, the guitarist quit the band, effectively bringing Underage to an end.
What’s up Sorry State readers? I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday season and end to 2024. I can’t believe it’s already that time again. Another year in the books and time for a year end roundup. I hope everyone else had a great year like I did. I discovered a ton of great music, saw a bunch of amazing live shows, and got some good traveling in as well. The following, in no particular order, are ten of my favorite records I got this year. A note that not all of these are records that came out in 2024, but new to me this past year.
Homemade Speed - Faster is Better 7”
This record just rips straight up. Definitely one of my favorite hardcore releases of the year and I love the Keith Caves cover art as well. Killer from start to finish. I would love to see these guys live one day.
Cicada - Wicked Dream 7”
After an amazing demo, this Richmond band struck again with this incredible release. Only bangers from start to finish. I’m really looking forward to more music from this group.
Tiikeri - Tee Se Itse 7”
I can’t help but smile when I listen to Tiikeri. It’s just fun music to listen to. Everything this Finnish band puts out just seems so fresh and full of life. Definitely always a hit amongst us here at Sorry State.
Public Acid - Deadly Struggle 12”
Hell yeah Public Acid! Another ripper from start to finish. It feels like a lifetime ago when this came out in February; I had to double check this came out in 2024. Right up there with one of my favorite bands to see live, they always bring the house down.
Various - Punk 45: There Is No Such Thing As Society - Get A Job, Get A Car, Get A Bed, Get Drunk! - Vol. 2: Underground Punk And Post-Punk In The UK 1977-81 12”
Quite the title, huh? Originally released on CD in 2013, I picked up this bad boy on my recent trip to London at Sounds of the Universe as I saw it fitting to commemorate my trip across the pond. There are so many catchy songs on here, but the Notsensibles I’m in Love With Margaret Thatcher has been stuck in my head since I heard it.
Various - Studio One Dub 12”
Another record I picked up in London. What can I say? I love a good compilation and this is about as good as they come. A great one to just throw on and relax. I could easily just listen to a bunch of dub compilations all day and never get tired of it.
Various - The Roots Of Chicha (Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru) 12”
Okay, one more compilation I swear. I picked this one up when I was over in Seattle this past summer. I discovered my love of Peruvian music this past year thanks to Dom and am thankful for it. If this record doesn’t make you wanna shake them hips around you got a problem.
Jimi Hendrix - Songs For Groovy Children (The Fillmore East Concerts Highlights)
This record came out this past Black Friday, and I had to snag it. This is just a few songs picked from his Filmore East shows on December 31, 1969 and January 1, 1970. I’d love to get the whole box set one day, but this is a much cheaper option. They did a great job of selecting the songs they put on this one. I love this version of Izabella and I could listen to Jimi rip up Machine Gun for 24 hours straight and not get tired of it. All hail Jimi.
Doc And Merle Watson - Never The Same Way Once - Live At The Boarding House - Thursday, May 2, 1974
You bet your ass I was gonna get some bluegrass on here. Honestly, I think I could safely say this is my favorite record I own. I love Doc Watson, and I love live albums and this one truly makes it feel like you’re stepping back in time and you’re right there in the crowd listening to Doc and Merle pick on some classics. If I could ever go back in time and see an artist live, it would be Doc, so this is about as close as I’m gonna get and I ain’t complaining. Thank you Owsley Stanley for this incredible recording (and everything else).
Billy Strings - Live Vol. 1
You know I had to get my boy on here. I’ve said so much about Billy and his live shows in past staff picks, but I really can’t emphasize how great this band is live. I’ve had so much fun at shows with friends and family both and it’s so awesome to have that experience captured on vinyl. I’m already eagerly anticipating Vol. 2 and know it won’t disappoint. The next show is always the best one.